Leeds Magazine is predicting that Leeds, Alabama will become the cornerstone of growth for Jefferson County, and an ideal model of growth for the State of Alabama.  Take that statement to the bank and use the following to back it up.

Leeds is strategically located in the next geographic region destined for growth.  In the 60's and 70' the talk was about "over the mountain" and the 80's saw this as the city of Hoover and Shelby County boomed with retail and population growth. The 90's brought continued growth to these areas but saturation problems soon revealed congestion and lack of services as the population continued to climb.  Today these areas beg for a solution to Highway 280 and a daily commute that brings "patience" to an all new meaning.

Growth to the north of Birmingham will not be truly seen until the interstate corridor has been finished for several years. The western side of the county struggles not with growth as much as with revitalization and that is a timely endeavor.  The eastern end of Jefferson County with established interstates, vast open areas and the key ingredient of strong communities such as Leeds, will lead the charge into the 21st century.

The Grand River project envisioned as the sister project to Ross Bridge and a joint development of Daniel Corporation and USS Real Estate shows the commitment and foresight these major players have for our area. A key meeting of Leeds Council members, board members, bond underwriters, developers and other players in this project met this past Tuesday at the law offices of Waldrep, Stewart and Kendrick to move the project forward.

The result of this meeting was to bring together the developers, underwriters, and the City of Leeds', Council, Commercial Development Authority, and Leeds Water Works to work out a development agreement representing the interest of all parties in this cooperative endeavor. While the hard work of the Bass Pro Shops project laid the foundation for this future growth, there are differences as this project could be double the size of Bass Pro.

The Daniel Corporation and USS Real Estate are expected to invest over 100 million in this project asking the City of Leeds to co-invest in its own future by  providing the infrastructure of roads, water, and other basic services of approximately 35 million.  The beauty of this investment for the City of Leeds is that it stands to gain substantial sales tax revenue from the 340,000 square foot retail outlet of the project, paying down the bond debt with substantial revenue left over from the beginning.

Another significant factor of this project is the Daniel Corporation and USS Real Estate partnering with Audubon International in their International Gold Signature program to insure Grand River is developed in an environmentally sustainable way under the strict environmental protection guidelines of the Gold Signature program.

Besides a major retail outlet with an anticipated opening of fall 2009, Grand River will combine over 700 homes in an inspired neighborhood with major outdoor amenities aimed at creating an inspiring retreat for the inhabitants.

Things are moving forward and a feasibility study approved by the city through SAG (Strategic Advisory Group) is expected by the end of the month, to provide the needed figures for the development agreement and verify the impact to the city, to be presented to the council at the April 7 regular scheduled meeting.

 

I just spoke with Dr. Pack regarding the softball and baseball field repairs.  The school board is expected to approve the bid for the contract this afternoon (Thursday).  The anticipated contractor is expected to begin work immediately.   Contingent upon sub-contractor scheduling/availability and good weather they hope to have the fences and dugouts repaired in approximately two weeks.   It is anticipated they will replace the entire fence around the baseball field which includes the current standing back-stop.

 

When the fences are repaired/replaced we then can begin playing afternoon games on both fields.  The lights, however, will take a total of 4 -6 weeks.  While this may not allow our teams to play into the evening it is certainly better than their situation now.  There will be plenty of daylight to allow the varsity teams to play full games.  There is also discussion of moving start times up (pending opponent approval) to allow for JV games during daylight. 

I know for some of you this is not soon enough!  However, please keep in mind there are families within 100 yards of both fields who either have no home or whose home has yet begun to be repaired.  Our athletes are performing well throughout this adversity!  Both teams are state ranked and have the real possibility of advancing to the state playoffs. 

Let's keep supporting them and just maybe they will learn a valuable life lesson about living through adversity that may benefit them down the road when they face the adversity's we face everyday as adults. 

Roll Green Wave, 

Brad Pool

President,

Leeds Athletic Booster Club

The Leeds Arts Council welcomes back Terry Padgett in Elvis Sings Gospel, April 5^th at 7:00 p.m. 

Song to be performed include Peace in the Valley, Crying in the Chapel, Milky White Way, Lead Me Guide Me, I've Got Confidence, Amazing Grace, Let us Pray, I've Got a Feeling, How Great Thou Art, American Trilogy, In the Ghetto and others.

Padgett takes pride in recreating the same sincere and caring attitude Elvis conveyed to his audiences.  He is hailed as one of the few Elvis Tribute Artists who can fill the shoes with the look, the voice and the moves of Elvis.  

Opening the program for Padgett will be well-know instrumentalist Nash and Melissa Wills, Leeds residents.  They are currently on staff at Adamsville Baptist Church. Nash is the Minister of Music and Melissa is pianist.  Their duets on the saxophone and piano will include traditional "old time" gospel songs such as: Goodbye, World, Goodbye; He Touched Me; He Touched Me; It is Well; Sweet Beulah Land and a gospel medley.

You do not have to drive far to enjoy this fun-filled tribute. The Leeds Theatre and Art Center is located at 8140 Parkway Drive in downtown Leeds, next to Carl Ann's Florist, and a mere 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham.  Call 699-1892 for $15 tickets, or visit the Leeds Theatre and Art Center Tuesday thru Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The history of a mineral-springs hotel resort founded in Cook Springs in the 1880s will be spotlighted at the April 13 meeting of the Leeds Historical Society.

            The 2 p.m. meeting at the historic depot in Leeds will feature author Anita Smith, a writer of books and articles about health, lifestyle, and history and former medical editor of The Birmingham News.

Smith recently completed a book detailing the history of the Cook's Springs Hotel titled The Village and its Neighbors: A History of the Village at Cook Springs and its Surroundings. The book is published by Noland Health Services, which operates the Village at Cook Springs senior-housing campus about a half mile from where the Cook's Springs Hotel once stood.

             As a part of her presentation, Smith will conduct a question-and-answer session to give those in the audience a chance to reflect on the strong role the Leeds area has played in the rich history of the Cook's Springs Hotel.